Before the Lawsuit, There Was a Promise

Over the past several years, accessibility-related lawsuits against municipalities and businesses have sparked considerable debate in Puerto Rico.

They also marked one of the few times the media paused to focus on accessibility. Yet that coverage did not always reflect the experiences of the people who face these barriers every day.

Much of the attention focused on who had filed suit, how much money was being sought, and how much it would cost to defend the case. There was extensive discussion about the conflict, but very little about what had happened beforehand.

What happened before the lawsuit?

Before judging someone for turning to the courts, we must ask an important question:

What happened before they reached that point?

When we visit municipalities to verify reports submitted through Puerto Rico Reporta, we do more than assess the conditions at each location. We also listen to the people who live with these barriers every day.

The locations may change, but many of the stories sound the same.

One person told us:

“The mayor came to my home. He knows what I need. He promised he would address the situation. Now he passes right by me and ignores me.”

What makes this story so painful is not just the physical barrier, but also the indifference that followed the promise.

In the stories people have shared with us, the lawsuit was not the first step. There were phone calls, visits to government offices, letters, and conversations with public officials. People explained what they needed, trusted the promises made to them, and waited.

Then they called again. They asked again. They told the same story again.

And nothing changed.

Every lawsuit has its own facts, and not everyone follows the same path. But we should not condemn someone for turning to the courts without first asking how many times they tried to be heard and how many closed doors they encountered.

No one is asking for special treatment. They are asking for the opportunity to move through and participate in their community without putting their safety at risk.

Accessibility is not a luxury or a favor. It is a right.

Does reporting a barrier encourage lawsuits?

Our work prompted someone to ask us a direct question: Does Puerto Rico Reporta collect information for attorneys?

I understand why this concern may arise. After years of headlines about lawsuits, some people may view any effort to document accessibility barriers with suspicion. But a direct question deserves an equally direct answer.

No.

Puerto Rico Reporta does not encourage lawsuits or collect information for attorneys, and it is not affiliated with any attorney or law firm. It is a civic participation tool created to give people a way to report barriers in streets and public spaces throughout their communities.

Reporting a barrier is not an attack, nor is it an attempt to provoke conflict. It means saying:

“There is a problem here. Someone is being affected. We have an opportunity to address it.”

A photograph, a description, and a location can bring a previously overlooked situation to light. Documenting a barrier creates an opportunity to act before the situation worsens—or before going to court begins to feel like the only option left.

Access should not depend on who you know

No one should have to know someone within municipal government to request that a sidewalk be repaired, a curb ramp be built, a crossing be made safer, or an obstruction be removed.

They should not have to visit multiple offices, learn legal terminology, or tell their story repeatedly until they finally find someone willing to listen.

The process should be simple. People should know where to file a complaint, who will address it, and when they can expect a response.

Not every barrier can be fixed right away. But everyone deserves to know that their request was received, what will happen next, and who is responsible for following up.

Silence cannot continue to be accepted as normal.

Without a clear process, requests are reduced to informal conversations. Promises are made without deadlines, follow-up is lost, and when staff members change or an administration ends, people must start all over again.

The barrier remains. Frustration grows. Trust erodes.

And when every other door appears to be closed, the courthouse may become the only one left open.

Acting before the courthouse becomes the only option

If we truly want to prevent more lawsuits, the answer is not to discourage reports, question the intentions of those speaking up, or wait for a legal notice to arrive.

The answer is to listen carefully, respond clearly, and act promptly.

Puerto Rico Reporta is helping open a different path. We want barriers to be identified and addressed before someone must consider legal action simply to receive a response.

Every person who submits a report is saying that their experience matters. They are also thinking about those who use the same route today and those who will need it tomorrow.

Reporting does not create the problem. The problem already exists.

Reporting means refusing to continue treating it as normal.

Change begins when someone is willing to point out what we have learned to ignore for far too long. It continues when others listen and decide to do something about it.

Because before many lawsuits, there was a reasonable request. There was a known need. There were opportunities to respond and time to act.

And far too often, there was also a promise that was never kept.

Promises are no longer enough. No more excuses. It is time to listen, respond, and follow through.